Perfect House - but under mobile phone mast

Seanymph

I wouldn't buy it.

dodger1

I'd buy it without a seconds thought. I'd probably get the price reduced to allow for reselling years later though. Even if potential buyers were 50/50 about possible fears of health problems that's still a lot of people who wouldn't buy so get the reduction.

jamesperrett

Do you use a mobile phone? If so, you are subjecting yourself to a much higher level of radiation than you would get from a mobile phone mast next to your house.

Skint_Catt

Thanks all,

No don't smoke, nor drink much (well none at the mo as I'm pregnant). I have a mobile but use it more for the calendar than actually make or recieve calls (I know its still transmitting I guess).

It doesn't 'bother' me as such (more my mother who believes everything in the Daily Mail), just wondered about consensus of opinion. There is another house for sale 3 doors up too - neither of which we've viewed just yet but are still on our list to do so.

Thanks all for your responses however! Certainly divided opinion!

C xx

Oakman

Hi,

I was informed by my council in May that they had received an application from O2/Vodafone to place a 12.5 metre high mast 15 metres (YES JUST 15 METRES) from my home.... months later, lots of letters, petitions, representations by other residents and councillors... it's got us nowhere and O2/Vodafone have now started the work.

Government policy (that of the previous Labour government) has made it very easy for the operators to put masts wherever they want... and in the case of O2/Vodafone they are embarking on what can be best described as an aggressive roll out of masts across the country. Just do a google search for "O2 Vodafone Mast" you will come up with many contentious application sites... O2/Vodafone (and their agents) don't care where they put them and they are extremely adept at silencing the few councils that do decide to challenge them.

The point over safety/health is not clear at all and a recent report talks about a "possible carcinogen" http://www.mobilemastinfo.com/2011/mobile-operators-note-iarc-classification-of-radiowaves.html
Despite this report and the fact that the The UK Advisory Group on Non Ionising Radiation are reviewing the science to report back next year operators like O2/Vodafone are still pushing ahead at full steam. In my communications with them they have made it very clear that they consider masts to be no different using a microwave or turning on a lightbulb. They have said that they will be improving cell coverage especially in urban area's so you could easily buy a home like I did a few years ago and suddenly find yourself with an unwanted neighbour that you can't do anything about.

The issue of "injurous affection" and the effect on house prices is also not clear. I have spoken to surveyors and there is some evidence that house prices can be affected by up to 25% but this is not always the case. There are also very few cases that have been held in court so there are little or no case precedents to refer to, in part due to the huge cost and massive risk involved. Again massive companies like O2/Vodafone know this and will fight to get what they want.

In my case I am now pursuing a complaint about my council through the Local Government Ombudsman.

poppysarah

How many people in the area use mobile phones? It's the demand that creates the need for more masts. Convince everyone to leave their mobiles alone and you might get somewhere.


I did watch the Gavin and Stacey phone mast protest episode recently though so I might not be taking this as seriously as you.

Svenena

I've just checked that website and there are 60 within about half a mile of my flat, including 4 (O2, Orange, Vodaphone and 3) on top of my building/the building next door. I've noticed they were there before in a vague kind of way, and never given it a second thought. I live in a city, so I guess it's to be expected - people living in villages may not be so used to it.

It wouldn't put me off unless it was an eyesore, but I would negotiate a discount as when you come to sell others are likely to have the same kind of qualms as some of the others on this thread.